Hockey season is upon us, and before training camp and the preseason get underway, the Montreal Canadiens will play games against the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2025 Prospect Showdown. For some of these players, it will be their first opportunity to don the Canadiens jersey, but for others, it will be their first chance to impress the Habs brass before training camp. Some of the players competing in these two games have a real chance of making the Canadiens' opening-day roster and will need to prove that they stand head and shoulders above the competition they are playing against.
1. David Reinbacher
The 2023 fifth overall pick, David Reinbacher, dealt with a knee injury last year that he sustained during last year’s training camp, which forced him to miss most of the season. When he returned to the lineup for the Laval Rocket, he did not look out of place, fitting seamlessly into the lineup. However, he rarely played in back-to-back games as the Canadiens did not want to risk any injury setbacks. Now, after having a full offseason to recover from his injury, all eyes will be on Reinbacher to get a grasp on his progression and see how soon he could feature in the Habs lineup. If he can show that he is in a class above the rest of the competition, it could do wonders for his confidence and standing in the organization heading into training camp.
2. Oliver Kapanen
Oliver Kapanen already made the Canadiens out of training camp once before, and will be trying to do the same this season. The 2021 second-round pick began the season with the Canadiens last season, but was loaned to Timra IK in the SHL after only registering two assists in 12 games. With Timra IK, Kapanen had an outstanding season, recording 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games. Kapanen will be looking to make the Canadiens’ roster again and could gain a lot by outperforming his fellow prospects at the Prospect Showdown. If he can fill the stat sheet over the next two games, it could give him an added edge over the other youngsters trying to crack the Canadiens' roster.
3. Florian Xhekaj
Florian Xhekaj is looking to parlay a great season with the Rocket last season into a spot on the opening night roster. Xhekaj impressed last season with his combination of grit and scoring ability, scoring 24 goals and registering 175 penalty minutes. The Canadiens already have a plethora of skill and speed on the roster, but Xhekaj brings other elements to the lineup, qualities that he shares with his older brother Arber: size and grit. Florian has already raised eyebrows, admitting he has gained 15 pounds compared to last season. If he can prove that the added size will not weigh him down and can be a physical presence during these two games, it could do wonders for his stock heading into training camp.